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Public Makaton training dates 

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  • Public courses are open to the public, accessible to a wider range of individuals and groups

  • Provide a sense of community and shared learning experience

  • In-person or Online options are available

  • Highly experienced & established trainer across all sectors

FREE Makaton training
Try before you buy! Try this taster session completely FREE!
10am - 11:30am on Weds 14th Jan '26 - BOOK HERE - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1931611 - FULL​​
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​Early Years training IN-PERSON £50pp​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Thursday 12th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1895104 FULL

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Saturday 28th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1967535 FULL

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Saturday 30th May 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2006673

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Early Years training ONLINE £50pp

 

Saturday 17th January 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1895120 FULL

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Saturday 21st February 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1895137 FULL

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Makaton Level 1 training manual front cover

​​Level 1 training IN-PERSON £85pp

Carer discounts available

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Friday 30th January 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872308 3 spaces

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Tuesday 21st April 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872309

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Thursday 16th July 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872310

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Makaton Level 2 training manual front cover

​​​Level 2 training IN-PERSON £88pp

Carer discounts available

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Thursday 12th February 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872316 - 4 spaces​

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Tuesday 23rd June 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872318

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Weds 23rd September 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872320​​​

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More dates coming soon!

Makaton Level 3 training manual front cover

​​​​Level 3 training IN-PERSON £88pp

Carer discounts available

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Wednesday 25th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884843 5 spaces​​

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More dates coming soon!

Makaton Level 4 training manual front cover

​​​​Level 4 training IN-PERSON £90pp

Carer discounts available

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More dates coming soon!

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General Wellbeing - ONLINE £55pp

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Sunday 8th March 2026 - 1pm - 4:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884812 FULL

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Saturday 9th May 2026 - 10am - 1:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884821

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Sunday 12th July 2026 - 11am - 2:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884949​​

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More dates coming soon!

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Nursing - ONLINE 

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Sunday 22nd February 2026 - 10am - 1:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884801

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Saturday 6th June 2026 - 1pm - 4:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884802​​

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More dates coming soon!

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Learning Disability

Team - ONLINE

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Saturday 28th February 2026 - 10am - 1:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884771

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More dates coming soon!

About Makaton for Early Years settings

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Do you work with babies, toddlers or pre-school children?

Do you want to give every child the best possible start in communication?

Are you looking for practical tools you can use straight away to support children’s understanding and expression?

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This 3.5-hour interactive workshop is designed for early years professionals who want to create calm, engaging and inclusive environments where all children can thrive. Makaton helps children connect, express themselves, and feel understood, even before they can speak.

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Why this workshop matters

  • Support early communication and language development

  • Reduce frustration and help children express their needs

  • Strengthen bonds between children, parents and practitioners

  • Create an inclusive setting that supports every child’s communication

 

What will you learn?

This workshop gives you the confidence and tools to:

  • Use Makaton signs and symbols alongside speech during daily routines and activities

  • Support children's understanding and ability to make choices

  • Embed signing into songs, stories, and play

  • Involve parents, carers and other professionals in consistent communication support

  • Create inclusive environments where all children can participate and belong

 

Workshop content

The session covers:

  • How Makaton supports early communication and language development

  • The communication journey and the importance of visual support

  • Key signs and symbols for daily routines and play

  • Practical strategies for embedding signing into everyday interactions

  • Signing through stories, songs and group activities

  • Real-life examples and practical exercises with support from your Tutor/Trainer

You'll also explore phrases commonly used in early years settings, such as:

  • “Do you want a drink of milk or water?”

  • “Are you feeling worried?”

  • “Where are the bricks?”

  • “Have you finished drawing?”

  • “Which toy would you like?”

  • “Great sitting and listening. Well done!”

 

Who is this for?

This workshop is ideal for anyone working with young children, including:

  • Nursery and pre-school staff

  • Early years teachers and SENCOs

  • Childminders and family support workers

  • Speech and language professionals

  • Children’s centre staff and outreach teams

No previous experience with Makaton is needed.

 

How it works

  • 3.5-hour interactive session

  • Delivered by a licensed Makaton Tutor/Trainer

  • Includes official Makaton resources and certificate of attendance

About Makaton Level 1

Makaton Level 1 training manual front cover

Level 1 training is the starting point for learning Makaton. It is recommended for anyone with an interest in Makaton,.

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Content

Level 1 training provides a practical introduction to the Makaton Communication Programme.

Sessions include discussing commonly asked questions, hints and tips for effective signing and symbol use and how to start using Makaton in everyday situations at home or work. You will also learn the signs and symbols from Stages 1 and 2, and some of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.

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Duration

The Level 1 workshop training is made up of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.

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In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6 hours.

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Online training for Level 1 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in two sessions.

 

Entry criteria

No previous Makaton experience is required.

 

Study materials

You will receive a Participant's Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and line drawings of the signs that you learn in the workshop. You will also be given a certificate of attendance.  Please remember to keep your Level 1 training certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.​​

About Makaton Level 2

Makaton Level 2 training manual front cover

Level 2 training builds on the knowledge you gained in Level 1 training.

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Content

You will learn the signs and symbols from Stages 3 and 4, and the rest of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.

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Duration

Level 2 training is made up of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.

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In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6 hours.

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​Online training for Level 2 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in two sessions.

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  • 1 full day'2 x half days

 

Entry criteria

Participants must have attended Level 1 training.

 

Study materials

You will receive a Participant's Manual, which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop. You will also be given a certificate of attendance.  Please remember to keep your Level 2 training certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.​

About Makaton Level 3

Makaton Level 3 training manual front cover

Level 3 training helps you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and how to use them effectively every day.

You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1 and 2 training, and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 5 and 6 of the Core Vocabulary.

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Duration

The Level 3 workshop consists of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.

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In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6.5 hours.

Online training for Level 3 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in 2 sessions.

 

Entry criteria

Participants must have completed Level 2 training.

 

Study materials

For the Level 3 workshop you will receive a Participant’s Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.

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For all the workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.​

About Makaton Level 4

Makaton Level 4 training manual front cover

Level 4 completes the Core Vocabulary and develops your understanding and skills in using Makaton to support people with a wide range of communication difficulties.

You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1, 2 and 3 workshops and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 7 and 8 of the Core Vocabulary.

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Duration

The Level 4 workshop consists of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.

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In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 7 hours.

Online training for Level 4 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in 2 - 4 sessions on one or more days, for example:

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  • 1 full day (one session in the morning, one in the afternoon.  (7.5 hours is recommended to allow plenty of time for lunch, and other breaks from the screen)

  • 2 x 3.5-4-hour sessions (different days)

 

Entry criteria

Participants must have completed Level 3 training.

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Study materials

For the Level 4 workshop you will receive a Participant’s Manual  which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.

For all workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.​

About Makaton For...' Workshops. Choose from:
Urgent and Emergency Care, General Wellbeing, Nursing, Dentistry, Emergency Services, Learning Disability Team

Makaton for Nursing training manual front cover
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Makaton Emergency Services training manual front cover
Makaton LD Team training manual front cover
Makaton for Dentistry training manual front cover
Makaton for Nursing training manual front cover

Elevate your communication skills​

Imagine enhancing children's speech, language and communication skills in your Early Years setting. Perhaps you work in health & social care and would like to support patient health outcomes with stress-free appointments, reduced anxiety, and smoother engagements.

 

Our RANGE of 3.5 hour, tailored to specific roles Workshops empowers staff to support communication to suit individuals.

 

To help develop language and communication skills for babies and young children or to involve patients in their healthcare decisions, fostering collaboration to improve overall well-being and ensure everyone feels informed and engaged in their healthcare journey. Makaton is a communication programme that combines speech, signs and symbols to empower anyone living with learning or communication difficulties to understand and be understood.

 

These courses are also popular for those working within general Health & Social Care settings such as Supported living settings, with the Workshop for General Wellbeing being the most popular and relevant to roles supporting adults at home and in the community.  

Makaton training enables your staff to connect confidently with people who have communication difficulties and needs. Training can offer ideas, advice, and guidance to improve your equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategies. 

This workshop will empower participants to engage more effectively with individuals within your individual settings.

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Bespoke training

Crafted in collaboration with experienced professionals specialising in learning and communication needs. Delivered in a flexible model to suit your needs with options for online or face-to-face sessions, our workshop offers:

Impactful Makaton Vocabulary: Enhance your capacity to communicate in both general and critical contexts.

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Specialised Training: A 3 and a half hour robust session to unlock your team's communication potential designed to meet diverse communication needs and enhance you service's accessibility.

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Key learning outcomes

  • Proficient in everyday Makaton signs and symbols.

  • Competent in specialist signs and symbols designed to improve understanding and reduce anxiety during appointments.

  • Promote inclusion and awareness.​

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About 'Watch my needs' workshop

Makaton Watch my Needs training manual front cover

Watch My Needs is a workshop designed for adults who are beginning to experience difficulties with understanding and recall, after having good understanding, recall and use of language.

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The Watch My Needs Workshop is for direct use with adults with memory difficulties, who should attend the workshop sessions with a supporter.

These can also be delivered in a care home setting with members of staff supporting adults.

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This workshop focuses on the Makaton Core user at the centre of the programme, with the aims of promoting independence, gaining confidence in making choices and taking part in daily activities.

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Duration
This workshop is delivered over 5 consecutive weeks, 90 minutes per session.


Entry criteria
No previous knowledge of Makaton needed

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Study materials
You will receive a Participant’s Manual  which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.

For all workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance.​

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